THE OUTFIELD - YOUR LOVE

 1.- Historia

La canción más conocida del grupo inglés The Outfield fue "Your Love". El músico y líder de la banda, Tony Lewis, falleció el 19 de octubre de 2020 a los 62 años de edad por causas no declaradas. La canción suele formar parte de discos recopilatorios de los 80s.

2.- Lyrics

Josie's on a vacation far away

Come around and talk it over

So many things that I wanna say

You know I like my girls a little bit older

Chorus

I just wanna use your love, tonight

I don't want to lose your love, tonight

I ain´t got many friends left to talk to

Nowhere to run when I'm in trouble

You know I'd do anything for you

Stay the night but keep it under cover

Repeat Chorus

Try to stop my hands from shaking

But something in my mind's not making sense

It's been a while since we were all alone

But I can't hide the way I'm feeling

As you're leaving please, would you close the door?

And don't forget what I told you

Just 'cause you're right that don't mean I'm wrong

Another shoulder to cry upon

Repeat Chorus...

3.- Vocabulary

Vacation (USA), Holiday (UK) = Vacaciones

Far away = Muy lejos

A little bit = Un poquito

Nowhere = Ningún lugar, ninguna parte

Trouble = Problema

Under cover = Encubierto

Shaking = Temblando

Make sense = Tener sentido

It's been a while = Ha pasado un tiempo

Hide = Esconder

Forget = Olvidar

'Cause = Because = Porque

Mean = Significar

Shoulder = Hombro

Upon = Encima, sobre

4.- Grammar

a) Presente Simple

Ejemplos:

- Josie's on a vacation far away.

- I don't want to lose your love tonight.

b) Presente Continuo

- But something in my mind's not making sense.

- As you're leaving.

c) Presente Perfecto

- It's been a while... = It has been a while...

d) Palabras gramaticalmente NO correctas

Wanna = Want to = Querer

Ain't = Am, Are, Is not / Have, Has not.

5.- Videoclip

WISH

 1.- Wish + To-Infinitive

Su significado es similar a "Want", pero se usa de manera formal.

Ejemplos:

- I wish to speak to Mr. Smith, please.

- I wish to visit you soon, if possible.

2.- Wish + Indirect Object + Direct Object

Esta fórmula se utiliza para expresar buenos deseos.

Ejemplos:

- I wish you the best in your new job.

- Wish me luck!

- We wish you a Merry Christmas!

3.- Wish + Verb forms in That clause

Se usa de manera similar a la forma condicional.

Ejemplos:

- I wish I had a better salary.

- I wish I knew how to use this laptop.

- I wish I had known you were coming.

- I wish I hadn´t said that.

4.- Wish + That clause

Sirve para mencionar situaciones que lamentamos.

Ejemplos:

- I wish that everything could be as it used to be.

- I wish I had her mobile number.

- I wish you hadn't told me how the film ends.

5.- Wish + Would

Cuando hay algo que nos molesta, utilizamos esta fórmula.

Ejemplos:

- I wish the neighbour would stop making so much noise!

- I'm just wishing he would go away!

EASTER AND HOLY WEEK - READING

Fuentes:  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday

                    https://www.britannica.com/topic/Holy-Week

1.- Definition

Easter, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier.

The English word Easter, which parallels the German word "Ostern", is of uncertain origin. There is now widespread consensus that the word derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in "albis", a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba (“dawn”) and became "eostarum" in Old High German, the precursor of the modern German and English term. The Latin and Greek "Pascha" (“Passover”) provides the root for "Pâques", the French word for Easter.

2.- The Date Of Easter

In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixion on the same day that Jews celebrated the Passover offering—that is, on the 14th day of the first full moon of spring. The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, regardless of the day of the week.

In the West the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on the first day of the week, Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead.

Increasingly, the churches opted for the Sunday celebration. The Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25.

3.- The Holy Week

Holy Week, in the Christian church, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, observed with special solemnity as a time of devotion to the Passion of Jesus Christ. In the Greek and Roman liturgical books, it is called the Great Week because great deeds were done by God during this week. The name Holy Week was used in the 4th century by St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia. Originally, only Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed as holy days. Later, Wednesday was added as the day on which Judas plotted to betray Jesus, and by the beginning of the 3rd century the other days of the week had been added.

By the later 4th century the practice had begun of separating the various events and commemorating them on the days of the week on which they occurred: Judas’s betrayal and the institution of the Eucharist on Maundy Thursday; the Passion and death of Christ on Good Friday; his burial on Saturday; and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

4.- Easter Customs And Traditions

The custom of the Easter lamb appropriates both the appellation used for Jesus in Scripture (“behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world,” John 1:29) and the lamb’s role as a sacrificial animal in ancient Israel. In antiquity Christians placed lamb meat under the altar, had it blessed, and then ate it on Easter.

The use of painted and decorated Easter eggs was first recorded in the 13th century. The egg itself became a symbol of the Resurrection. Just as Jesus rose from the tomb, the egg symbolizes new life emerging from the eggshell.

The custom of associating a rabbit or bunny with Easter arose in Protestant areas in Europe in the 17th century but did not become common until the 19th century. The Easter rabbit is said to lay the eggs as well as decorate and hide them.

5.- Vocabulary

- Earliest = Primer

- Widespread = Extendido, general

- Provide = Proveer

- Passover = Pascua judía

- Regardless of = Sin tener en cuenta, sea cual sea

- Increasingly = Cada vez más

- Decree = Decretar

- Equinox = Equinoccio

- Palm Sunday = Domingo de Ramos

- Deed = Acción, hazaña

- Bishop = Obispo

- Plot = Conspirar

- Betray = Traicionar

- Betrayal = Traición

- Burial = Entierro

- Custom = Costumbre

- Lamb = Cordero

- Behold = Mirar, ver

- Sin = Pecado

- Ancient = Antiguo

- Antiquity = Antigüedad

- Rose = Rise = Levantar(se), alzar(se)

- Eggshell = Cáscara de huevo

- Arose = Arise = Surgir

- Lay = Poner

- Hide = Esconder

JOKES (2)

 Hace algún tiempo, publicamos una serie de "Jokes" o chistes para mejorar su nivel de inglés.

Puede ver la primera parte aquí: https://inglespedia.blogspot.com/2014/12/jokes.html

En esta ocasión, ofrecemos 15 chistes más para un estudio más ameno del idioma de Shakespeare.

1.- Overflow

What did the Plumber say to his girlfriend when they finished? It’s over flow.

Explicación:

Aquí se juega con la palabra "overflow" que significa "desbordar" o "desbordamiento" con la expresión "to be over somebody" cuyo significado es "haber olvidado a alguien".

2.- Establo

A jockey fell off a horse, he is in a stable condition.

Explicación:

La clave está en el doble uso de la palabra "stable".

- Stable = Estable (adjetivo)

- Stable = Establo (sustantivo)

3.- Turtles

I saw a documentary on turtles last night, so I went to buy a book on them.

I went in to the library and asked the fella: "Have you got a book on turtles, mate?"

"Hardback"? He said.

"Yeah, and little ears".

Explicación:

Aquí tenemos además vocabulario coloquial.

- Documentary = Documental

- On = Acerca de (algo)

- Fella = Fellow = Tipo, persona

- Mate = Amigo, compañero (forma coloquial)

- Hardback = Libro de tapa dura

Para entender el chiste debemos diferenciar entre "Hardback" y "Hard back". La segunda es "Espalda dura".

4.- Flat

On my way home from work I saw a homeless man living in a tyre. So, I went over and punctured it and now he has his own flat.

Explicación:

Lo primero, decir que es un chiste delicado o que puede no ser del agrado de algunas personas.

La clave está en 3 palabras.

- Tyre = Neumático

- Puncture = Pinchar 

- Flat = Departamento, Pinchazo (sustantivo)

5.- Time

(I) Got a knock on the door last night. It was the police. They asked: "where were you between 5 and 7?" I said: "primary school".

Explicación:

En este chiste sólo hace falta saber a qué hacen referencia los números 5 y 7.

6.- Jehovah's witness

A Policeman called at my door last night with a photo of a missing man. "We're looking for this man, he's a Jehovah's witness who lost both his arms in an accident".

I replied: "I haven't seen him officer but his face rings a bell".

Explicación:

La clave está en la expresión "Ring a bell" que significa "sonar" en el sentido de recordar. Además, los Testigos de Jehová se caracterizan por ir predicando de puerta en puerta. 

7.- Lookalike

They just had a lookalike competition in China. Everybody won.

Explicación:

La palabra "lookalike" se refiere al doble físico de una persona.

8.- Electrician

Most people are shocked when they find out how bad an electrician I am.

Explicación:

En este caso sólo tenemos que dirigir la mirada a las palabras "shocked" y "Electrician".

- Shock = Asombrar, asustar

- Shock = Descarga eléctrica

9.- Butter

I would tell you a joke about butter, but I'm afraid you would spread it!

Explicación:

La palabra clave aquí es "spread".

- Spread = Extender, desplegar

- Spread = Untar

10.- Botox

(Do you) Remember when plastic surgery was taboo? Now, if you mention Botox, no one raises an eyebrow.

Explicación:

La expresión "to raise an eyebrow" es la clave en este chiste. Significa arquear las cejas para mostrar sorpresa o desaprobación de algo. Esta expresión juega con "Botox" debido a lo que sucede cuando es aplicado a una persona.

11.- Award

The scarecrow won an award for being outstanding in his field.

Explicación:

Sabemos que un "scarecrow" es un "espantapájaros". La clave está en el juego de la palabra "outstanding" con "out standing" o "standing out".

- Outstanding = Sobresaliente

- Out standing = Standing out = Estar parado fuera

12.- Fascinate

Teacher asks Billy to make a sentence with the word fascinate in it. So Billy says: "my shirt has 9 buttons on it but I couldn't only fasten 8".

Explicación:

Esta vez se trata de pronunciación.

- Fascinate (fáseneit)

- Fasten 8 (fásn éit)

13.- Poltergeist

I have just had my first poltergeist book published. It's flying off the shelves.

Explicación:

La palabra "poltergeist" se refiere a fenómenos paranormales. Esta relacionado generalmente con objetos que se mueven o vuelan. Por ello, la clave esta en "Flying".

14.- Carlos

What do you call a guy in Spain who has lost his car???? Carlos.

Explicación:

El nombre "Carlos" juega con la expresión "car lost".

15.- Ugly

Guy at a supermarket checkout.

He has 1 carrot; one turnip; 1 onion; half pint of milk; small loaf of bread. The cashier says: "You live on your own, don't you?"

The guy replies: "Well, yeah. Can you tell that from my shopping?"

Cashier replies: "No, you're just an ugly man".

Explicación:

Este chiste no necesita mayor explicación. Solo el vocabulario.

- Checkout = Caja de una tienda o centro comercial

- Carrot = Zanahoria

- Turnip = Nabo

- Pint = Pinta (medida)

- Loaf = Rebanada, hogaza, pan de molde

- Cashier = Cajero, cajera. También "Shop assistant"

- Ugly = Feo, fea

BABY LOVE - THE SUPREMES

1.- Historia

El trío de chicas The Supremes estaba conformado por Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson y Diana Ross. Tuvo una docena de números 1 en el ranking Billboard de USA y alrededor de 50 singles editados.
Florence Ballard falleció el 26 de febrero de 1976 a causa de un ataque al corazón. Mary Wilson falleció el 08-02-2021 a la edad de 76 años. Diana Ross se hizo solista en 1970.

Fuente : https://the-music-history.blogspot.com/2021/02/the-supremes-top-5.html


2.- Lyrics

Baby love, my baby love

I need you

Oh, how I need you

But all you do is treat me bad

Break my heart and leave me sad

Tell me what did I do wrong

To make you stay away so long

'Cause baby love

My baby love

Been missing ya

Miss kissing ya

Instead of breaking up

Let's do some kissing

and making up

Don't throw our love away

In my arms

Why don't you stay?

Need ya, need ya

Baby love, baby love

Baby love, my baby love

Why must we separate my love?

All of my whole life through

I never loved no one but you

Why you do me like you do

I get this need

Need to hold you once again

My love

Feel your warm embrace

My love

Don't throw our love away

Please don't do me this way

Not happy like I used to be

Loneliness has got the best of me

My love

My baby love

I need ya

Oh, how I need ya

Why you do me like you do

After I've been true to you

So deep in love with you

Baby, baby

'Til it's hurting me

'Til it's hurting me

Ooh, baby love

Don't throw our love away

Don't throw our love away

3.- Vocabulary

- Treat = Tratar

- Wrong = Mal, equivocado/a(s)

- 'Cause = Because = Porque

- Miss = Extrañar, echar de menos, perder.

- Instead = En vez de, en lugar de.

- Ya = You = Tú, ti

- Whole = Todo/a

- Guess = Creer, pensar

- Hold = Tener de la mano

- Embrace = Abrazo

- Loneliness = Soledad

- 'Til = Until = Hasta

- Hurt = Herir

4.- Grammar

A.- Presente Simple

Ejemplos:

- I need you.

- All you do is treat me bad.

En algunas hace falta el sujeto.

- (You) Break my heart.

- (I) Miss kissing ya.

B.- Presente Perfecto

Ejemplos:

- (I Have) Been missing ya.

- I've been true to you.

- Loneliness has got the best of me.

C.- How (exclamativo)

- How I need ya = ¡Cómo/Cuánto te necesito!

D.- Phrasal Verbs

- Stay Away = Mantenerse alejado/a, alejarse.

- Throw away = Desaprovechar, desechar.

E.- Used to

Se utiliza para describir hábitos del pasado que ya no se dan en la actualidad.

- Not happy like I used to be.

5.- Videoclip

VALENTINE'S DAY - READING (B1 - B2 - INTERMEDIATE LEVEL)

 

Extractos de Valentine's Day de la Enciclopedia Británica. 

1.- Origin 

Valentine’s Day, also called St. Valentine’s Day, has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites and the pairing off of women with men by lottery. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I replaced Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day. It came to be celebrated as a day of romance from about the 14th century. 

2.- Valentine 

Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. Other accounts hold that it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named, though it is possible the two saints were actually one person. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love. 

3.- Valentine Cards

Formal messages, or valentines, appeared in the 1500s, and by the late 1700s commercially printed cards were being used. Valentines commonly depict Cupid, the Roman god of love. Traditional gifts include candy and flowers, particularly red roses, a symbol of beauty and love.

4.- Celebration

The day is popular in the United States as well as in Britain, Canada, and Australia, and it is also celebrated in other countries, including Argentina, France, Mexico, and South Korea. In the Philippines, it is the most common wedding anniversary. The holiday has expanded to expressions of affection among relatives and friends.

5.- Vocabulario

- Held = Hold = Celebrar, sostener

- Pair off = Emparejar

- Martyr = Mártir

- Priest = Sacerdote, cura

- Bishop = Obispo

- State = Manifestar, declarar

- Defy = Desafiar

- Spare = Ahorrar

- Feast = Fiesta

. Depict = Representar

- Wedding = Boda

WITH, WITHIN, WITHOUT

1.- With

Es una preposición cuyo significado es "con" y se usa de forma similar que en castellano.

2.- Usos de With

- She arrived with her boyfriend. (junto con)

- I opened the package with a knife. (usando)

- Matt woke with terrible toothache. (teniendo)

- I couldn't sleep with the noise. (debido a)

3.- Within

Esta preposición indica algo que está dentro de un mismo espacio o lugar.

- People who live within the city pay high local taxes.

También se usa con el tiempo.

- I should arrive within 2 days.

4.- Without

Es lo contrario de "with", es decir, "sin".

5.- Usos de Without

- I can't drink tea without milk. (sin)

- I found myself in a strange country, without money. (falto de, sin)

- Don't go out without an umbrella. It's raining. (por un motivo)

NOTA.- La estructura : Without + verbo + _ing, puede indicar que alguien no hizo algo.

- I couldn't get the picture out of the frame without breaking the glass.